LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The first ever Wildcat Memorial Showdown occurred over Memorial Day weekend. It featured 60 teams from nine different states in five separate age groups. The following athletes were just a few of the ones who celebrated the holiday with some good basketball in Lexington, rather than a barbeque in the backyard.
Oklahoma-native Desiree Bradley of the KC Selects has the tools to make an impact at almost any spot on the perimeter. Standing 6 feet 1 with a lean, athletic build, she has both the size and quickness to be an impact at both ends of the floor. Offensively, she can create off the dribble and get into the paint almost at will. She demonstrated solid form on her shot with several pull-ups, but didn't reveal any range due to the fact she penetrated constantly. The foot speed and wingspan that she can utilize defensively makes her imposing in both man and zone. It also makes her a commodity in any pressing or trapping situation. While there's already an attack to her game, she'll have to add some strength to get the most out of it.
Despite the fact that no rosters were available for the 11 Tennesse Flight teams, Taylor Mills is the kind of player that makes you track down information on just who you're watching. The 5-5 point guard catches your eye with her skills and court intelligence. She has the ability to keep defenders honest with her touch and range, but can also create scoring opportunities for her teammates. Her athleticism is sound and she can get past quicker defenders, while making good decisions with the ball. Mills is the kind of point who could be effective in either a transition game or a controlled, disciplined environment. At the other end of the floor, size could well become an issue, but she has good lateral speed and anticipates well off the ball.
The consensus in recruiting circles these days is that after a deep class of posts in 2009, the next group of bigs has a few individuals but lacks any real depth. As a result, 6-4 post Peyton Davis of the Alabama Roadrunners may stand out more, but it's a safe bet she would have stood out anyway. Her size and frame give her a great base from which to evolve into the thing college coaches search for almost daily. Along with her size, she has good mobility in the half court and runs the floor in transition. She was effective with the ball and finished or drew fouls when she got it on the block. Her vision and passing are good from the high post and she has the tools to set the screens that free up very appreciative guards. It was obvious the physical game isn't her favorite style of play, but when she did mix it up she had positive results and could utilize that to her advantage.
If you're looking for the kind of point guard who can control the pace of a game and keep up with her teammates in transition, then keep an eye on Essence Purple's Jamierra Faulkner out of Florida. It doesn't matter it it's off a make, miss or turnover, the 5-6 point guard pushes the ball and keeps transition defenders on their toes. She also makes good decisions at a fast pace and is more than willing to give the ball up. In the half court she can create her own shot, but is even more effective distributing the ball. Her aggressive play isn't limited to the offensive end because she is assertive and has the ability to turn an opposing point guard or contain any penetration.
Any time you watch Zakiyah Martin play, the first thing you notice isn't going to be a basketball attribute. Playing for the Kentucky Lady Saints she sets the standard for effort and work. Add to that her 6-2 frame and boundless athleticism you've got the kind of forward recruiters dream about. She's active at both ends of the floor and doesn't hesitate to put a body on someone or mix it up. Offensively, she's most effective around the basket, but will have to become more effective in the high post or on the perimeter. Defensively, the tools are there to match up with bigger guards or athletic forwards and she rebounds with a vengeance. Plus, she always has a smile on her face when the game gets physical and that's never a good sign for opponents.
Watching Brianna Banks just a month ago left observers looking for more consistency from the impressive guard from Essence. Her dominance of the floor for two or three minutes would be followed by a few minutes where she would disappear. If last weekend is any indication, the 5-9 guard has found the answer. The mentality the Georgia resident brings to the floor is nothing short of an intense attack. Whether she has the ball in her hands or is defending it, she focuses and plays with an aggression that gets her results. Defensively, she could be one of the standouts in the 2011 class and has the potential to be the stopper that can shut down any threat on the other team. Offensively, she's there on the break and can create off the drive in the half court. She'll have to find consistency with her perimeter shot to keep defenders closing out tight, but the tools are there to get the job done.
Ronnisha Major may call Huntsville, Texas home, but she made the trip out to the Bluegrass State with the KC Selects. The 6-2 forward has a game that's as big as her home state as well as a blue collar approach that makes her a factor each time she steps on the floor. Very strong and active, she forces defenders to dig in and then shift their footwork constantly giving her an advantage in the paint. She finishes well around the rim and has the ability to draw fouls and get to the line. A physical defender and a workhorse on the boards, she makes the most of her minutes. Conditioning will be a key for her to keep her from being her own worst enemy.
The SMAC Lady Ballers are a team of 15-year-olds that prove nothing by playing in their own age group. Without a doubt Kalpana Beach and her teammates should be "playing up" and challenging themselves throughout the upcoming summer. Beach is a 6-2 wing who may still play the forward spot a bit, but has a bright future on the perimeter. She has a good stroke and the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. Defending other wings isn't going to be an issue with her size and length and the foot speed is there to even match up with some smaller guards. Even at the 4, the Westlake, Ohio native has the ability to post and finish down low and can make things happen from the high post as well. She has lots of tools and tons of potential that can be really advanced by playing against older, more experienced teams.
Mississippi-native Rachel Hollivay of Essence showed again why she received an invitation to the USA basketball U16 national team trials this weekend. The 6-4 post has the combination of physical and basketball skills that make her one of the few high school level interior players who could probably leave school early for college, if it were a possibility. What sets her apart from others that have similar physical attributes is her willingness and ability to use them. Utilizing her impressive reach, she plays at full extension and can get off the floor easily. Whether it's rebounding or finishing the short stuff down low, she rises above the crowd and plays at the rim. Defensively, she can change shots and force passes when the opposition penetrates. She can run the floor with the guards and can even handle it a bit herself. Three more years of high school and some possible international experience give her limitless potential.
If a continued progression of skills and the advancement of your game is a sign of things to come, folks better be watching Marjorie Butler closely. Just a month ago at the Nike Skills Academy in Atlanta, the 5-6 point guard from the Tennessee Flight showed the ability to penetrate and distribute the ball effectively, but this past weekend she added her own scoring mentality. Still attacking on the drive, she was more conscious of her own looks and scoring opportunities and made the most of them. That kind of versatility will make her popular among teammates and college coaches. The perimeter shot is still going to be the critical facet of her game. If her jumper evolves with range and consistency, she'll have the complete game that everyone's looking for.
With two years of varsity basketball already under her belt, Mikayla Epps of the Kentucky Lady Ballers has already established herself as one of the top point guards in Kentucky as well as the 2013 class. Now standing 5-7, she's playing with a mature confidence and shows the versatility that will set her apart from average floor leaders. Her ability to read defenders is evolving and she's picking her spots to attack. She's also shown the ability to score on the drive, with a pull up or to nail the long ball. There's an instinctual aspect to her game that could take her to a very elite level.
GiGi Bailey of the Charlotte 76ers is another post with lots of gifts. The 6-3 standout has the size, build and athleticism to be a dominant force in the post. Her participation last month at a Nike Regional Skills Academy should help in her fundamental development. Her progress is already obvious and she's making an effort to apply new skills in game situations. The toughest thing for her at this point is that everything is a thought rather than a reaction. When that fact gets reversed, she'll be leaving a mark that people will notice.
Another standout from the state of Kentucky is Rebecca Greenwell of the Tennessee Flight. The 6-0 guard has the stroke to be a deadly threat from the perimeter, but she can also penetrate and create her own looks in the paint. The fact that she's more than just a shooter makes her a more demanding matchup for defenders and her height already provides her with an added advantage. She'll have to give it up more to keep opponents playing her honestly, but she has a textbook understanding of the game and makes good choices. Physically lean now, she'll fill out as she matures and ultimately provide an even bigger challenge for defenses.
